Language selection

Search and menus

Search

Topics menu

Report on Annual Expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences 2015-2016

As required by the Treasury Board Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures, this report provides information on the total annual expenditures for each of travel, hospitality and conferences for the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016. It also provides explanations of variances in comparison to the previous fiscal year in each of these areas.

Expenditures on travel, hospitality and conferences incurred by the Agency are for the most part directly related to supporting its mandate and government priorities.

The Agency's core mandate is to help ensure the efficiency and accessibility of the national transportation system through the use of a range of authorities and tools. Further information on the Agency's mandate, roles, responsibilities and programs can be found in the 2015-2016 Departmental Performance Report on the Agency’s website.

Total annual expenditures for Travel, Hospitality and Conferences of the Agency are summarized below:

Expenditure Category

Expenditures for the year ending March 31, 2016 (a)
(in dollars)

Expenditures for the previous year ending March 31, 2015 (b)
(in dollars)

Variance (a – b)
(in dollars)

TOTAL

$ 272,940

$ 317,797

$ (44,857)

Travel – Public Servants

$ 247,488

$ 270,954

$ (23,466)

Travel – Non-Public Servants

$ 13,339

$ 14,559

$ (1,220)

Total Travel

$ 260,827

$ 285,513

$ (24,686)

Hospitality

$ 12,113

$ 10,619

$ 1,494

Conference Fees

-

$ 21,665

$ (21,665)

Significant variances compared to the previous fiscal year

TRAVEL:

Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2014-2015, Agency travel expenditures incurred by public servants in 2015-2016 have decreased. In May 2014, Bill C-30 – Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act received royal assent. The Act mandated that consultations be held with stakeholders to inform and provide advice to the Minister on the minimum amount of grain to be moved by rail. As well, in 2014-2015, the Agency developed two new regulatory initiatives enabled by the Act (rates for expanded interswitching limits and operational terms for rail level of service) which required consultations with affected stakeholders. Such consultations were held over the course of fiscal year 2014-2015 which caused an increase in travel expenditures incurred by public servants in 2014-2015.

Non-Public Servants: Compared to fiscal year 2014-2015, Agency travel expenditures incurred by non-public servants in 2015-2016 remained essentially the same.

HOSPITALITY:

Compared to fiscal year 2014-2015, Agency hospitality expenditures remained essentially the same in 2015-2016.

CONFERENCE FEES:

Compared to fiscal year 2014-2015, Agency conference expenditures have decreased mainly due to the Agency's efforts in aligning its financial coding to better represent the Receiver General's definition of conference fees as per Economic Object 0823.